The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-07
THE MARKET FOR FREAKS.
Where Dime Museum Managers Get Their
Curiosities-The Salaries They Pay.

MECCA
Burmah. the India rubber man, the Chicago
Girl with big feet. the living skeleton and the
man who ia going to swim the whirlpool at Nj
aoara Once each year, usually in July or
August the great families of montrosities come
,s New York They blister their feet walking
hare from every corner of the United States.
They walk up and down the busy street IN the
seorcbipg sun waiting for managers to engage
fbeno for the next winter. The Bowery Is the
freaks exchange. It is to him what the Stock
Exchange or the Board of Trade is to the stock
or wheat broker. All are on level on the
Bowery. The man who can masticate pound
Of glass in fifteen seconds is no better than the
boy who swallows needles. The fat woman, al
though drug in the market, holds her nose as
high in the air as the fair dame who coils snakes
around her neck.
The Bowery is a great leveler.
The Chinese giant is of no more Importance
than the woman who has not spoken word
since the day she weaned- To be sure, the
latter is good deal of rarity, but until the De-
diamonded and oleaginous dime museum dealer
appears and the freak signs his her contract
for the next season all are on an equality
The managers flock here in droves during July.
They come from Oshkosh, New Jersey. Buffalo,
Boston and other places where Culture sits on
pedestal They on the alert for novelties.
They want to get them cheap. The Important
freaks are engaged frat. few staple freaks
are engaged for the season. and lazy boys, fat
women. giants, Brooklyn bridge jumpers, the
man without tongue and other stars are
signed to appear at intervals
How are theyl Is it profitable to be freaks
WE'LL yes, considering.
Fat men and women paid according to
their weight. Tie average pay is about $50 per
week Very heavy men or women get high
as $50 Beginners receive from $50 to $2o, and
are advanced as they become heavier. Cir
cassian girls not profitable. 1t doesn't really
pay to be Circassian girl now. The market is
fat at $50 to $25 per week Tattooed men come a
little higher They can be obtained for $I5 per
week but the genuine article readily brings $40
per week.
cit don't pay to tattoo now" said one of these
gentry yesterday "a mans got to be way
in the act or he'll be crowded out. 1 think I'll
try the India rubber act or the pIe-eatin racket.
/ can get 800 q week for eatin' twenty pies a
day. It's great pard.
India rubber men come high. They are not
numerous. They are always good drawing
cards. 1t isn't every one who be rubber
man. 1t is hard work, and is great strain on
the beginner. Still, it is profitable. Experts
receive 800 per week. Hairy boys from Bur-
nah are also in demand. They receive 500 per
week. Men who can eat glass not rare now
adays, and it really doesn't pay to go into the
business. First-class glass eaters get only $50
per week. It's q great strain man to eat
glass. Sword swallowing is more profitable A
woman who can eat sword after until she is
COR ged gets $40 per week, and is in great con-
trast to Chicago girls with big feet. Years
ago such women were rare, but the bull mar
ket in the staple has been fattened out and
they can be had now for $l2 weekly. The sup
ply of bridg jumpers exceeds the demand. and
can be had for 81 day. Fire eaters are paid
500 weekly. Snake charmers get as high as
$50 the man with the iron jaw is very nu-
merous. He is quoted at $40 to SIS weekly.
IL may seem strange that dime museums can
pay the salaries quoted above, but when 1t Is
considered that they are open from morning nm
til night the wonder is not great. Most mu-
seums have a side show attachment in the form
of a pretidi gitateur or Punch and Judy The
salaries paid magcians vary according to their
reputation and ability Five dollars per day to
give a dozen OF more performances Is considered
= good price for museum exhibitions Three
dollars per day tor a Punch and Judy exhibition
ia about the average salary paid.
But the Bowery s also the headquarters for
clowns, sin gers, dancers and other specialists OF
the variety theatre. Like their confreres OF the
muset IN, they are all in town eager to make en-
gagements for next winter There has been
great falling off in the value of clowns lately
Years ago circuses depended upon them to a
large extent for their mirth. but the clowns
duties have been curtailed, and now they only
appear in the circus ring at inter
walls. and are permitted only to tumble
about and give pantomime exhibitions
Still they well paid. Forty dollars per week
is the average compensation. few get 500.
The best paid clown in this country Is Conklin.
wonderfully high price. Jim Motif gets $75.
He is one OF the kings of the profession. Fairly
good clowns can be bad for $50 per week. Trap
eze performers can be engaged for the same
amount and tumblers for $15. The country is
flooded with expert acrobats and grand and
lofty tumblers They can be hired at any price;
from $40 to SIS is considered good pay.
1T doesn't pay to be a tumbler these days.
laid one of the experts this week. sit is hard
work, and it requires years of study and practice
We begin by turning handsprings and walking
on our hands when boys. and gradually become
more and more proficient until we are able to
perform feats that people pay to witness It's
dangerous work and SIS per week doesn't begin
10 pay for the study and hardship we undergo
Bareback riders paid the highest salaries OF
any performers connected with circus Some
receive as much az 5000 per week. The usual tall
ary is 800 No irst-cass rider can be obtained
for less, although there numerous men and
women who can ride fairly well are paid only 500
or SIS. 1t takes long time TO become an expert
rider and many a promising beginner Is injured
for life in the attempt.
Tight rope walkers receive $50 Those who
can do some extraordinary feat. such as riding a
performers are mostly women, and are usually
advanced in life before they begin their perilous
work In thor palmy days most of them were
baletdancers. IL is noticed this season the tight
rope walkers are not in great demand. The pub
tic has tired of them and the profession is over
crowded. In fact, the business has fallen off so
much that tight-rope walkers in the streets OF
small cities and towns only attract moderate
crowds. Strolling walkers faster their rope
from one building TO another and give free ex-
hloltlons- After the performance they pass the
depend received
their livelihood.
Clog dancing is also declining. Clog dancers
can be had at small figures. On the Bowery
they be picked up by the hundred The
proprietors of the variety theatres in the Bow
cry have saying that 'if you want a good clog
dancer 60 out into the street and whistle aud
you'll have dozen to pick from in a minute"
TIE cheap clearinghouse all have dancers
among their dodgers In truth, it may be said
II at many oil them dance for their meals. dance
Z IT their drinks. and dance for their lodgings.
I've best of them usually 90 in nairs and recelva